[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21775]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Sensitive 
Joint-Vetch for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability 
for public review of a draft Recovery Plan for the sensitive joint-
vetch (Aeschynomene virginica). The sensitive joint-vetch is an annual 
legume that occurs in intertidal areas along river systems in North 
Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. The species was listed as 
a threatened species in 1992 due to destruction and degradation of its 
habitat. The primary recovery strategy for this species is to protect 
extant sensitive joint-vetch sites within six watersheds in Virginia, 
Maryland, and New Jersey. The Service solicits review and comment from 
the public on this draft Plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft Recovery Plan must be received by December 
1, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft Recovery Plan can obtain 
a copy from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Field Office, 
Mid-County Center, U.S. Route 17, White Marsh, Virginia 23183, 
telephone (804) 693-6694. Comments should be sent to this address, to 
the attention of Cindy Schulz.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Schulz (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered 
species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is 
working to prepare Recovery Plans for most of the listed species native 
to the United States. Recovery Plans describe actions considered 
necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for the 
recovery levels for downlisting them, and estimate time and cost for 
implementing the recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) requires the development of Recovery Plans for listed 
species unless such a Plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, 
requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and 
comment be provided during Recovery Plan development. The Service will 
consider all information presented during a public comment period prior 
to approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The Service and other 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing Recovery Plans.
    The document submitted for review is the draft Sensitive Joint-
Vetch (Aeschynomene virginica) Recovery Plan. The Sensitive joint-vetch 
is an annual legume of the bean family native to the eastern United 
States. This species occurs in freshwater tidal river systems; 
currently, it is known from a total of 24 extant sites, including one 
in New Jersey, one in Maryland, two in North Carolina and 20 in 
Virginia. Almost every population of this species is subject to water 
withdrawal projects or habitat loss, modification, or degradation from 
development.
    The goal of the sensitive joint-vetch recovery program is to 
protect, maintain, and increase the species and its habitat, enabling 
eventual removal of this plant from the Federal list of endangered and 
threatened wildlife and plants. This will be accomplished through 
habitat protection (preventing habitat destruction and deterioration) 
at the landscape level and possibly by finding additional populations.
    The draft Recovery Plan is being submitted for agency review. After 
consideration of comments received during the review period, the Plan 
will be submitted for final approval.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the Recovery Plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be 
considered prior to approval of the Plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: August 26, 1994.
Cathy Short,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-21775 Filed 9-1-94; 8:45 am]
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